Congratulations to Raven Garland, winner of a copy of The Best of the Emerald City Book Review! Thanks to all who celebrated my seven years of blogging at ECBR. If you'd still like a copy of the book, it's available for sale now in EPUB, Kindle, and print format (from Lulu or Amazon). The print … Continue reading Best of the Best: My top picks from seven years of blogging
Ursula K. Le Guin, Malafrena (1979) When I was a fantasy-loving preteen, I bought the paperback copy of Orsinian Tales by Ursula K. Le Guin. It looked just like my copies of the Earthsea trilogy and The Wind's Twelve Quarters, and I expected to find more magical and otherworldly journeys within its pages. Instead, I … Continue reading A necessary passion: Malafrena
For Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, the theme is "resolutions/hopes for 2021." Here are some of the books I want to read in 2021 - with a focus on nonfiction, since it's one of my resolves to read more of it. Totalitarian and oppressive regimes -- These are threatening and scary, … Continue reading Top Ten Nonfiction Books I Want to Read in 2021
Moss Hart, Act One (1959) I read Act One years ago, but was inspired to visit it again after reading Julie Andrews's memoir Home, which includes a priceless account of her experience in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady. Hart was the director, and if he hadn't been, Andrews might never have made it … Continue reading A dramatic transformation: Act One
It's time to sign up for another year of the Back to the Classics challenge, hosted by Karen of Books and Chocolate. Here are the categories Karen has chosen this year, and the books I think I might read to fill them (not that I ever actually stick to them): 1. A 19th century classic: … Continue reading Back to the Classics Challenge 2021
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope this year will bring you joy, as we all continue to work through very great challenges. This month, I'm closing down my seven-year adventure at The Emerald City Book Review and moving all my blogging activity over to the Enchanted Castle. So as I've done each year, I'd like … Continue reading Reading and blogging goals in the new year
As I bring my other blog, The Emerald City Book Review, to a close, I've just posted my seventh annual list of "Emerald City Gems" -- my favorite reads from the past year. For Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, here's a selection of ten of my top favorites. What are yours? … Continue reading Top Ten reads from 2020
As I near the end of my year of reading the entire Bible, there have been parts that I met as old friends. The Gospels, the Psalms, the book of Genesis and the book of Revelation are all familiar to me, though they continue to unfold new insights when read in this slow and deliberate … Continue reading Between Egypt and Babylon
As I've continued with my project of reading the Bible in one year, the program I'm using doesn't necessarily go through the Old Testament in order. Occasionally it breaks the sequence to skip to a later book, before returning to the traditional list. After many, many books about the kings of Israel and their misdeeds … Continue reading A journey with Jonah, with a poem
Last month we went to see the touring version of the new London production of Les Misérables in Zürich. I saw the original New York production many years ago as a teenager, and vividly recall how deeply I was moved; it stirred me to my core in a way I could not explain, as all … Continue reading Do you hear the people sing?
